Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-03-12, Page 15Naturalists will construct bluebird trail near Lucknow By James Friel Bill Henderson has about 300 little. bluebird boxes covering about 35 square miles and centred in Lucknow, all in an effort to bring bluebirds back to the area where they had become all but extinct. The Huron Fringe Field Naturalists Clubhas decided to construct a kind of tribute to Henderson in recognition of his efforts and what better way than putting together a 10 mile bluebird trail from north of Lucknow on the 6th concession in Huron Township to Bruce Beach on Lake Huron. The trail would connect to the area Henderson has already covered. Geoff Walker is one of the avid bird watchers trying to organize the trail before the birds nest in April and, if the experiment is successful, says he will work full-time at keeping the trail just for bluebirds, "I'm sure if it hadn't been for Bill Henderson there wouldn't be any blue- birds around here," he sais. He added that the trail wouldn't steal any of the thirty families Henderson housed last year, but that it would give the delicate bird an opportunity to spread. The plan is to construct about 50 houses and place five to a mile out to the lake. They "must be checked regularly to keep out other birds. If the trail is to be surieessful, the houses must be kept exclusively for bluebirds," states a letterrequesting assistance. To keep .:_the trail just for bluebirds "we will have to be -mean, nasty and. ruthless with other birds. If you check the houses at leash once a week it won't be difficult to keep them clean. If you let FEATURE it go much longer, you may find baby birds which we can not be asked to destroy;" another letter explains. About 10 people have committed themselves to keeping open the trail to just bluebirds. The way to tell that a bluebird has selected a house for nesting is by looking at the nest itself. Bluebirds make nests out of fine grasses and their eggs are a greenish blue, If any sticks or feathers are found in a box, they should be cleaned out, the club says. Boxes should also be placed about five feet up ona fence post and in an open area to discourage red squirrels which eat bird 'eggs. Houses should be faced away from the road to permit easy monitoring and prevent tampering, unless cows use the field. According,, to the club, cows will think the boxes salt licks and will destroy them through continual licking. Walker didn't want to hazard a guess as to the number of families the 50 boxes could house but Henderson's rate last year was about one family in 10 boxes. Other types of birds inhabit most of the rest. Depending Qii the success of the trail, the club wants to put up a new trail every year. ;J "We'll have bluebirds all over the, place," said Walker. Those alonthe 6th concession who are interested: can call Geoff Walker at 529-7777 or Joe Burgess at 395-5701. Mrs. Howald hostess for WMS Mrs. Harold Howald was hostess for the March "meeting of South Kinloss W.M.S. held the .church hall March,,. 5. The meeting opened with President Mrs. Allan MacDougall reading a poem followed by the 'singing of a hymn. Mrs. Frank MacKenzie presented the Bible Study ,on Romans 12: 15 - 18, based tut the roll. call - a Bible verse with the word Friend. Love and.friendship havetheir own language. Friendship is a two-way thing; _if you want to be friends you must be friendly. Seventeen ladiespresent answer - 'ed, the roll, call. - . Mrs. John Forster played two lovely piano,numbers Why should He love me so and Mansion over the Hill Top. 90th° birthday 'Party in honor of Mrs. '4 William Maclntyre will . be held in the Church Hall March 22 from 2 to.4:p:m. An invitation to the Trinity UCW on April .6 at 7.30 p.m. was. accepted to attend. , ' `Mrs. Harold'Howald continued the study- of the nativepeoples of North America. Education for!..lndian people of Ontario has been updated in recent years. Recently, schools for. native peopleare under . ;they r . - control . of :churches. The church has provided schooling, medical help anda better way . of life for the Indian people. , Mrs. Eva Burt will be hostess in the Church Hall for the. April 2 meeting. The offering -was received and•dedicated by Mrs. Lloyd MacDougall, followed with courtesy remarks by Mrs. Frank MacKen- zie. , A hymn was sung'and Mrs. ;Evan Keith closed with prayer: ngannon ladiesperform st. On Feb. 18'a meeting of the Dungannon UCW Was held at . the home of Willetta ;McWhinney at 1.30 fon. 'II The prggtani was led *Helen Helen Dawson and started with: a reading from Matthew 28, verses 1.08., Devotion was given in form. of. a skit The signof the•CrosS and was play acted by seven ladies. Hymns 98 verse ;3,, 605 verse 3"; tOti verses' and $ and i verse 4 •were read: Helen then read &Om Matthew 16, verses 24 28, after which she read how Jesus was able to bear the cross with God's help. A prayer was offered and all repeated the Lord's Prayer: Collections followed and was dedicated, Nora Saunders reported on the West, rninster Weekend which she attended' last spring. The theme was Our experiment a sacrifice. Rollcall was answered by :a Bible • verse with Love in it. Minutes were read and adopted. Cortes-, -pondence was dealt with and thank yo u: • cards were read. An holo , was : received to attend the Huron Perth Eby- terial •to be held in Stratford United Church. • as was one. to `'the 100th .anniversary of iiertsstll United: ' y. „ • • • Information was given on the Westmin ster •`Weekend ' and Alma School -icor WomenSeminars will be held of t' University of Waterloo in June. it beri Linskll was to ` purchase .:material;' for a' quilt. Some of the ladies were 'appointed to take' ';part in the World Day, 'of Prayer service to be at the Dungannon United ' Church on March 7. It was announced that there will be a. box social held at the church for the , women ,of thefour point -charge. The meetin closed with the benediction and a lovely lunch, was enjoyed. Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, March 12, 1986—Page 15 1 Introducing DEKALB DAYS March 1Zth 13th Be an early bird and take advantage of our great savings offer. Visit .me during DEKALB DAYS, pick up your corn and alfalfa order and get a 5% savings on early cash payment. If your order is 10 units or more, and you pay during,. DEKALB DAYS, you'll receive .a DEKALB jacket absolutely FREE. You're already a winner when you choose DEKALB quality products. And, with savings like these, you can't lose. Name Ben Mltenbulg Address R.R.7, LucknOw 5 Mlles West of Brookside Sahoo 529-7516 Telephone Hours 1!m! 5p.fn. s Cooking? Ws nb ni Crryystal°clear Everything's "cooking inthe classifieds. To buy &sell acar, to meet a new friend, t fin 'o tart cog, to Sell your skis•nto-find a nor i job, to locate a hon yrnon, to run ;agarage sale, to hire a, cook so.much morel You Won' ' finC er nl arket laa'e'like tart hetet • C1� •